Milwaukee Public Schools’ Milwaukee High School of the Arts is now the first school in the Midwest to benefit from a new GRAMMY Signature Schools partnership between the GRAMMY Foundation and the Hot Topic Foundation.

The Signature Schools Community Award includes a $2,000 grant to be used to assist in maintaining the school’s high-quality music program.

Milwaukee High School of the Arts was selected in part because its students have been chosen through a rigorous selection process for the All Star GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles in the past, including Felix Ramsey, who was selected last school year.

“Many here in Milwaukee already know about the high-quality arts offerings at our Milwaukee High School of the Arts – and we’re grateful groups around the country are taking notice as well!” MPS Superintendent Gregory Thornton said.

Milwaukee Public Schools is Wisconsin’s largest school district, serving nearly 80,000 students in more than 160 schools across the city. U.S. News and World Report named MPS’ Rufus King International School and Ronald Wilson Reagan College Preparatory High School the two best high schools in the state and among the 200 best in the country in 2012. In the past year, Milwaukee Public Schools posted a growing graduation rate 17 points higher than the rate for 2000.